The situation at the country's remand prisons has been investigated in a report by the Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) Katarina Påhlsson. She concludes, among other things, that there is a risk of insecurity.
"Being forced to live together with an unknown person in a small space under the prevailing conditions causes stress and anxiety for many. It is not uncommon for prisoners to be locked in their cells for 23 hours a day without any opportunity for private time", she says in a press release.
Furthermore, the lack of or inadequate matching of cellmates and the lack of structured follow-up on how double occupancy works are also highlighted as particularly problematic risk areas.
"I cannot draw any other conclusion than that the conditions risk exposing prisoners to inhuman or degrading treatment", says Påhlsson.
Double occupancy is a measure taken to address the shortage of space within the Prison and Probation Service today.
The report is based on the situation at six of the country's remand prisons. The JO will later publish a report on the situation at the country's prisons.
